Tendulkar will be a key figure in the outcome of the Test series

Four players made half centuries as India enjoyed valuable batting practice ahead of the Test series in Pakistan.

Sachin Tendulkar led the way with 74 as the tourists reached 298-4 on day one against Pakistan A in Lahore.

He was eventually caught off Yasir Arafat, but VVS Laxman was 25 not out at the close, with Yuvraj Singh on 11.

Gautam Gambhir (53) and Wasim Jaffer (58) had launched the innings with a stand of 81 before skipper Rahul Dravid weighed in with 63.

The match at the Bagh-e-Jinnah ground is India's only chance for competitive practice prior to the first Test, which starts next Friday, and the two captains agreed to make it a 12-a-side fixture.

India left out vice-captain Virender Sehwag and leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who are both certain selections for the Test, former skipper Sourav Ganguly and reserve keeper Parthiv Patel.

Their arrival in Pakistan was delayed to allow them to play in the Ranji Trophy.

Gambhir was the only man dismissed before lunch, cutting a ball from seamer Mohammad Irshad staright to Rao Iftikhar Anjum at point after hitting nine fours in his innings.

Dravid forces short leg Mohammad Wasim to take evasive action

Jaffer and Dravid put on 72 for the second wicket before Jaffer edged a catch to the keeper off Umar Gul, who is hoping for a Test recall after more than a year on the sidelines because of a stress fracture in his back.

Dravid followed in the final over before tea when he drove a catch to cover off occasional leg-spinner Imran Farhat.

But Tendulkar lit up the final session with some fine strokes, colelcting 10 boundaries before he finally edged to keeper Zulqarnain Haider.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, meanwhile, has warned his players to expect a tougher test than they encountered in the recent series against England.

"England's batsmen found it hard to adjust to the pitches and were lacking in the spin department. India are strong in both areas," he commented.

Pakistan A: Imran Farhat, Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim, Hasan Raza, Bazid Khan, Asim Kamal, Zulqarnain Haider, Mohammad Irshad, Rao Iftikhar, Mansoor Amjad, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat.

India: G Gambhir, W Jaffer, R Dravid, S Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Y Singh, M Dhoni, I Pathan, A Agarkar, H Singh, Z Khan, RP Singh.